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Hedayati Marzbali M, Hakeem IG, Ngo T, Balu R, Jena MK, Vuppaladadiyam A, Sharma A, Choudhury NR, Batstone DJ, Shah K. A critical review on emerging industrial applications of chars from thermal treatment of biosolids. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 369:122341. [PMID: 39236613 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
Thermochemical treatment is rapidly emerging as an alternative method for the management of stabilised sewage sludges (biosolids) to effectively reduce waste volume, degrade contaminants, and generate valuable products, particularly biochar and hydrochar. Biosolids-derived char has a relatively high concentration of heavy metals compared with agricultural chars but is still applied to land due to its beneficial properties and ability to retain metals. However, non-agricultural applications can provide additional economic and environmental benefits, promote sustainability and support a circular economy. This review identifies extensive non-agricultural opportunity for biosolids biochar, including adsorption, catalysis, energy storage systems, biological process enhancement, and as additives for rubber compounding and construction. Biosolids chars have received limited attention vs agricultural char, and we draw on both areas of literature, as well as evaluating differences between agricultural and biosolids chars. A key opportunity for biosolids biochar in comparison with other materials and agricultural chars is its sustainable and low-cost nature, relatively high metals content, improving catalyst properties, and ability to modify in various stages to tune it to specific applications. The specific opportunities for hydrochar have only received limited attention. Research needs to include better understanding of the benefits and limitations for specific applications, as well as adjacent drivers, including society, regulation, and market and economics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojtaba Hedayati Marzbali
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia; ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource, College of STEM, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia.
| | - Ibrahim Gbolahan Hakeem
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia; ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource, College of STEM, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia
| | - Tien Ngo
- ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource, College of STEM, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia; School of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia
| | - Rajkamal Balu
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia; ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Transformation of Reclaimed Waste into Engineered Materials and Solutions for a Circular Economy (TREMS), RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
| | - Manoj Kumar Jena
- ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource, College of STEM, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia
| | - Arun Vuppaladadiyam
- ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource, College of STEM, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia
| | - Abhishek Sharma
- ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource, College of STEM, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia; Department of Chemical Engineering, Manipal University Jaipur, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 303007, India
| | - Namita Roy Choudhury
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia; ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Transformation of Reclaimed Waste into Engineered Materials and Solutions for a Circular Economy (TREMS), RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
| | - Damien J Batstone
- ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource, College of STEM, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia; Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Kalpit Shah
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia; ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource, College of STEM, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia.
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Zbair M, Limousy L, Drané M, Richard C, Juge M, Aemig Q, Trably E, Escudié R, Peyrelasse C, Bennici S. Integration of Digestate-Derived Biochar into the Anaerobic Digestion Process through Circular Economic and Environmental Approaches-A Review. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 17:3527. [PMID: 39063819 PMCID: PMC11278828 DOI: 10.3390/ma17143527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
The growing energy consumption and the need for a circular economy have driven considerable interest in the anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic waste, offering potential solutions through biogas and digestate production. AD processes not only have the capability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also contribute to the production of renewable methane. This comprehensive review aims to consolidate prior research on AD involving different feedstocks. The principles of AD are explored and discussed, including both chemical and biological pathways and the microorganisms involved at each stage. Additionally, key variables influencing system performance, such as temperature, pH, and C/N ratio are also discussed. Various pretreatment strategies applied to enhance biogas generation from organic waste in AD are also reviewed. Furthermore, this review examines the conversion of generated digestate into biochar through pyrolysis and its utilization to improve AD performance. The addition of biochar has demonstrated its efficacy in enhancing metabolic processes, microorganisms (activity and community), and buffering capacity, facilitating Direct Interspecies Electron Transfer (DIET), and boosting CH4 production. Biochar also exhibits the ability to capture undesirable components, including CO2, H2S, NH3, and siloxanes. The integration of digestate-derived biochar into the circular economy framework emerges as a vital role in closing the material flow loop. Additionally, the review discusses the environmental benefits derived from coupling AD with pyrolysis processes, drawing on life cycle assessment investigations. Techno-economic assessment (TEA) studies of the integrated processes are also discussed, with an acknowledgment of the need for further TEA to validate the viability of integrating the biochar industry. Furthermore, this survey examines the techno-economic and environmental impacts of biochar production itself and its potential application in AD for biogas generation, aiming to establish a more cost-effective and sustainable integrated system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Zbair
- Institut de Science des Matériaux de Mulhouse (IS2M), Université de Haute-Alsace, CNRS, IS2M UMR 7361, 68100 Mulhouse, France; (M.Z.); (M.D.); (S.B.)
- Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Lionel Limousy
- Institut de Science des Matériaux de Mulhouse (IS2M), Université de Haute-Alsace, CNRS, IS2M UMR 7361, 68100 Mulhouse, France; (M.Z.); (M.D.); (S.B.)
- Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Méghane Drané
- Institut de Science des Matériaux de Mulhouse (IS2M), Université de Haute-Alsace, CNRS, IS2M UMR 7361, 68100 Mulhouse, France; (M.Z.); (M.D.); (S.B.)
- Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Charlotte Richard
- ENGIE, Lab CRIGEN, 4 Rue Joséphine Baker, 93240 Stains, France; (C.R.); (M.J.); (Q.A.)
| | - Marine Juge
- ENGIE, Lab CRIGEN, 4 Rue Joséphine Baker, 93240 Stains, France; (C.R.); (M.J.); (Q.A.)
| | - Quentin Aemig
- ENGIE, Lab CRIGEN, 4 Rue Joséphine Baker, 93240 Stains, France; (C.R.); (M.J.); (Q.A.)
| | - Eric Trably
- INRAE, University of Montpellier, LBE, 102 Av. des Etangs, 11100 Narbonne, France; (E.T.); (R.E.)
| | - Renaud Escudié
- INRAE, University of Montpellier, LBE, 102 Av. des Etangs, 11100 Narbonne, France; (E.T.); (R.E.)
| | | | - Simona Bennici
- Institut de Science des Matériaux de Mulhouse (IS2M), Université de Haute-Alsace, CNRS, IS2M UMR 7361, 68100 Mulhouse, France; (M.Z.); (M.D.); (S.B.)
- Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
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Wang W, Chang JS, Lee DJ. Digestate-derived carbonized char and activated carbon: Application perspective. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023; 381:129135. [PMID: 37164231 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The flourishment of anaerobic digestion (AD) on waste treatment emphasizes the importance of digestate valorization, which plays an essential role in determining the benefits provided by the AD process. The perception of digestate gradually shifts from waste to products to realize the concept of circular economy and maximize the benefits of digestate valorization. This review first outlined the current status of digestate valorization, focusing on thermal-chemical methods. The novel valorization methods were then summarized from the recent research, illustrating prospects for digestate valorization. Limits and perspectives are finally addressed. Methods for preparing digestate-derived activated carbon and impurity effects were elucidated. Inherent mineral content/inorganic impurity could be a niche for downstream use. High surface area and well-developed pore structure are essential for satisfying downstream use performance, but they are not the only factors. Digestate char applications other than use as an energy fuel are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Jo-Shu Chang
- Research Center for Smart Sustainable Circular Economy, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Tunghai University, Taichung 407, Taiwan
| | - Duu-Jong Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan; Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
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